Europe Day: Major Monuments Across EU to Light Up Ahead of European Elections

Open Day at the European Parliament in Brussels. Photo source: European Parliament

The Charilaos Trikoupis Bridge in Rio-Antirio, Greece, is among the major sites and monuments across the EU that will light up between May 8-9 to mark Europe Day.

Held on May 9 every year, Europe Day celebrates peace and unity in Europe.

According to the European Parliament, the special event will also mark the one-month countdown for the European elections to take place June 6 to 9.

The initiative will see over 60 cities across Europe display messages calling on citizens to vote one month ahead of the EU elections.

“With these illuminations taking place in cities across the continent, the European Parliament and national and local authorities are collaborating to send a message of togetherness to 440 million European citizens about the importance these European elections will have for everyone’s future,” the EU Parliament said.

The Arc de Triomphe in Paris, the Colosseum in Rome, and the Grand Palace in Brussels are some of the landmarks across Europe that will display the election campaign slogan “Use your vote, Or others will decide for you,” or the European flag between May 8 and May 9.

Open Day at the European Parliament in Brussels. Photo source: European Parliament

Other landmark buildings and monuments participating in the initiative include the Samuel Beckett Bridge and national parliament buildings in Dublin, Vilnius’ town hall, Fort St. Angelo in Valletta, the Presidential Palace in Bratislava, Cibeles Square in Madrid, and the National Parliament in Bucharest.

According to the European Parliament, May 9 is not just a day of remembrance but also a day to consider Europe’s shared future. The day’s proximity to the elections increase the significance of the occasion.

On Europe Day, the European Union commemorates the founding document of the EU, the “Schuman Declaration“. Signed on May 9, 1950, the declaration was the stepping stone to cooperation in Europe.

Schuman’s proposal is considered to be the beginning of what is now the European Union.